31 January, 2006
Army to get Leading Edge Combat Gear
Close combat units within the Australian Defence Force will be better equipped to defeat enemy forces on the battlefield following the introduction of new leading edge communications.
    Prior to his resignation as Defence Minister, Senator Robert Hill said Defence had awarded a $13 million contract to Marconi Australia to supply about 6000 handheld personal radios for soldiers in the five regular infantry battalions, the School of Infantry, cavalry reconnaissance scouts and the Combat Training Centre.
    He said the contract was part of a $35 million package of equipment for the Army under Project LAND 125 to provide soldiers with a range of combat equipment including thermal weapon sights, helmets and personal protective padding.
    Senator Hill said the package would improve the fighting capability and safety of the Army’s regular infantry battalions in future combat operations.
    "The new equipment will improve the lethality, survivability and command and control capabilities of infantry soldiers and cavalry reconnaissance scouts," Senator Hill said.
    "The new radios will ensure more effective communications between individual soldiers. This capability has been proven on recent operations to improve situational awareness and security within small teams.
    "The radios will be delivered early this year and will contribute to the Hardened and Networked Army objectives announced last year."
    Following an extensive evaluation process, the Marconi Personal Role Radio was selected to provide the Soldier Personal Radios. The evaluation process included field testing by soldiers of the 3 Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment.
    The current phase of Project Land 125 was approved in February 2005, to enable the first of a planned series of enhancements to Army’s close combat capability.

31 January, 2006
Swingers Slam-Dunked in Basketball Warning
As the finals of the National Basketball League fast approach and interest in the sport reaches its peak, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has reminded everyone that there is a serious safety message to consider if they had a basketball ring at home or were intending to get one.
    Across Australia there were more than 200,000 basketball rings and backboards installed on brick walls, over garages or doors, the ACCC said and a new Trade Practices Act mandatory standard requires all basketball rings and backboards to carry a safety warning notice and symbol to be displayed at the time of purchase.
    Unsafe installations of basketball rings and backboards could be easily dislodged by the weight of a player hanging off the ring and fatal and serious injuries could result from falling bricks or guttering.
    Commission spokesman and Northern Territory Regional Director, Derek Farrell, said the safety campaign was intended to raise awareness of the safe use, installation and maintenance of basketball rings and backboards, and included a printed safety brochure.
    Mr Farrell said the new standard recommended that homeowners:
   •install a basketball ring and backboard safely;
   •fix the basketball ring and backboard to a “hot dip” galvanised steel post;
   •check the condition of existing basketball rings and backboards;
   •remove unsafe basketball rings and backboards installed on brick walls; and
   •tell children never to hang or swing on the basketball ring.
   The chief executive of Basketball Australia, Scott Derwin, said basketball was a safe sport that people of all ages and skill levels could play at home or in an organised competition.
    “If you are going to install a ring at home, make sure you adhere to all the safety standards and don't swing on the ring,” Mr Derwin said.
    Basketball rings at professional sporting venues were re-enforced to withstand the elite level of play.

31 January, 2006
Stats Show Courts Jammed with Traffic Offenders
Australia’s Magistrates’ Courts were jammed with traffic offenders in 2004-05, the Australian Bureau of Statistics revealing almost a quarter of a million people were brought to book on road traffic matters in that year.
    Of 493,297cases to front the Magistrates’ Court, 224,676 were traffic offences, the bureau reported.
    And the older the offender, the more likely he or she was to be in court for a traffic infringement.
    The bureau found that people in their mid-40s or older were more likely (53 per cent) to be facing road traffic offences than any other offence. In comparison, 40 per cent of people aged 24 years and under faced similar charges.
    The types of offences heard for men and women differed in the higher courts, with 14 per cent of men facing sexual assault and related offences compared to 2 per cent of women. Almost one in five women (18 per cent) faced deception and related offences compared to 6 per cent of men.
    More than nine out of 10 people (96 per cent) facing charges in the courts in 2004-05 were found guilty.
    People proven guilty in the higher courts were more likely to receive a jail term than those in the Magistrates' Courts (57 per cent and 5 per cent respectively).
    Other results from the publication include:
   •Illicit drug offences were most likely to be proven guilty (97 per cent in the higher courts and per cent in the Magistrates' Courts).
   •In the higher courts “homicide and related offences” had an acquittal rate of 18 per cent, and the acquittal rate for “sexual assault and related offences” was 24 per cent.
   •In the higher courts, men were more likely than women to receive a jail term (59 per cent of men, 41 per cent of women).

31 January, 2006
Aussie photographers get snappy at Tourism Australia
A new advertising campaign for Tourism Australia has been run into criticism before it has begun, Australian photographers unhappy to be snubbed in favour of a Britisher.
    Four Australian photographers say they are appalled that Tourism Australia’s advertising agency, M&C Saatchi, chose a non-Australian to complete the $200,000 photographic work for the campaign.
    British photographer Pete Seaward was selected for the job ahead of Aussies Paul Torcello, Greg Bartley, Grenville Turner and Murray Fredericks.Seaward had worked with M&C Saatchi on a large campaign in New Zealand.
    The Association of Australian Commercial and Media Photographers believes the appointment was the result of existing relationships rather than merit.
    ACMP’s national president North Sullivan also claims that production for the Tourism Australia campaign was being handled by a foreign company - New Zealand’s The Department of Doing, based in Wellington.
    He said it's a slap in the face for Australian creative talent when Australia's finest are passed over.
    The ACMP has asked for the decision to be reviewed and the Aussies taken on.

31 January, 2006
Pilot Data Flies in Face of Media Claims
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has rejected media claims that the commercial aviation fatal accident rate in Australia is increasing and that the number of aviation fatalities

involving professional pilots in Australia over the last three years is very high compared with the years since 10.
    ATSB data and analysis released recently shows that Australia still has the best international record in high-capacity regular public transport with no fatal accidents involving passenger jet aircraft.
    According to the ATSB figures, even using the broadest definition of commercial aviationto include both RPT and General
Aviation and except for business/private and sport aviation, there was a significant decrease in the number of fatal accidents
between 10 and 2005. Although there was an increase in fatal accidents and fatalities for commercial operations during 2005, the year 2004 was the lowest recorded in the period for each measure. Also using the broadest definition of professional pilot, the data showed no significant trend in fatalities involving professional pilots from 10 to 2005 but a significant decline in the fatal accident trend.
    Fatal accidents and fatalities involving professional pilots were much higher compared with private pilots in 13, 14 and 2000 than in 2003, 2004 and 2005 ATSB said.
    It said the gap, (related to hours flown) is neither recent nor growing.
    Between 10 and 2004 (the last year for which activity data was available) commercial aviation operations recorded an average of 0.6 fatal accidents per 100,000 flying

hours compared with an average of 2.4 fatal accidents per 100,000 hours flown for non-commercial operations.
    There were four low-capacity RPT fatal accidents involving 32 fatalities recorded in the ATSB database from 10 to 2005 including a 15 training accident in

which there were no passengers on board. The other three low-capacity RPT accidents were Monarch (13), Whyalla (2000) and the recent accident at Lockhart River.
    The ATSB found that the total number of fatal accidents and fatalities declined significantly in the period from 10 to 2005. The largest number of fatal accidents (30) and fatalities (64) was recorded in 10. The lowest number of fatal accidents (10 and 11) and fatalities (24 and 23) occurred in 2002 and 2004. In 2005 there was an increase in the number of fatal accidents and fatalities to 13 and 34 respectively compared with 2004 but the number of fatal accidents and fatalities reported in 2005 was below the annual average (20 and 40 respectively) for the 16-year period.

31 January, 2006
Trade Marks Office Looks to Sidestep FOI
IP Australia is considering introducing a new system under which documents on trade mark files can be accessed, to replace the current system of access under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 ( the FOI Act). Comments are sought regarding this proposed system and should arrive by 3 February 2006.
    At present, access to documents on trade mark files is handled under the FOI Act
    Access to trade marks documents under the FOI Act is complicated and costly for IP Australia’s customers.
    There is no flexibility under the FOI Act as to how IP Australia is able to charge its customers, for example, it is not possible to charge on account.
    The FOI Act requires that a trade mark applicant be consulted before the release of any business or any sensitive personal information (eg details of a person’s physical or mental illness).

Trade mark applicants frequently contend that the following information is exempt from disclosure:
    • recent sales, advertising and turnover figures;
    • detailed proposals for marketing;
    • qualitative or quantitative marketing research;
    • customer or supplier invoices; or
    • customer lists.
    Trade mark applicants also frequently assert that information is exempt because it is confidential. However, as the Trade Marks Office does not have a practice of receiving evidence of use etc in confidence, such assertions are rarely upheld.
    The process of arguing that information is exempt under the FOI Act requires consultees to make submissions relating to the grounds set out in the FOI Act. This is a technically complicated area of law, and consultees frequently have difficulties in establishing exemptions under the FOI Act.
    According to IP Australia the procedures set out in the FOI Act are rigid and inflexible, and can delay the release of requested documents for a substantial period. It says this is inconvenient for parties requesting information, and can cause difficulties in matters such as oppositions, where extensions of time are frequently required while FOI requests are being finalised.
    In addition, the fees and charges for access to documents under the FOI legislation are set well below the cost to IP Australia of providing access to trade marks documents.
    As IP Australia is required to recover the costs of its operations, the bulk of the cost of the existing FOI regime for accessing trade marks documents is being borne by all users, including the substantial majority who have never used the existing FOI access regime.Under its proposed system for access to documents on trade mark files the Registrar of TradeMarks would release some documents on an explicit understanding of confidentiality and  give a direction that such documents were to be treated as confidential.
    The proposed system would be modelled on the system used by the UK Patent Office. More information is available from www.ipaustralia.gov.au

31 January, 2006
Ministerial Reshuffle Rewards and Relegates
Prime Minister John Howard visited the Governor-General on 24 January, seeking a rubber stamp for changes to the ministerial lineup.
    Mr Howard said the changes reflect the depth of talent available to his government and leave the coalition well placed to pursue its fourth term agenda.
    "The changes include two promotions into Cabinet, four new appointments to the outer Ministry and four new parliamentary secretary appointments," Mr  Howard said. He thanked Senators Hill, Patterson and Macdonald for their contributions to the government.
    "As a result of Senator Hill’s resignation, I have decided to appoint Senator Nick Minchin leader of the government in the Senate. The new deputy leader of the government in the senate will be Senator Helen Coonan.
    The Office of Indigenous Policy Coordination will be moved to the Family and Community Services (FACS) portfolio because of the potential synergies with other FACS programs.  "The portfolio will be renamed Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and the current portfolio of Immigration, Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs will be renamed Immigration and Multicultural Affairs.
    Mr Howard said Mal Brough would become Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Indigenous Affairs.
    John Cobb will become Minister for Community Services in the expanded portfolio.
    Dr Brendan Nelson will become Minister for Defence.  His previous portfolio, Education Science and Training went to Julie Bishop, who will also become Minister assisting the Prime Minister for Women’s Issues.  Senator Santo Santoro becomes the new Minister for Ageing.
    Bruce Billson takes Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence. The Prime Minister thanked De-Anne Kelly for her work in this portfolio over the past year and appointed her Parliamentary Secretary for Trade.
    Peter Dutton becomes the Minister for Revenue and Assistant Treasurer, replaced as Minister for Workforce Participation by Dr Sharman Stone.      
    Senator Eric Abetz will become Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation, while Gary Nairn will become Special Minister of State.
    Malcolm Turnbull will become Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister with particular responsibility for water policy. Andrew Robb will become Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs.
    Senator Richard Colbeck will become Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance and Administration.
    Sussan Ley will become Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, while Teresa Gambaro will become Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs.
Senator Sandy Macdonald will become Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence.
    In the light of the possibility of his retirement at the next election, Warren Entsch has asked that he stand down as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources, Mr Howard said.
    "I wish to thank Mr Entsch for his contribution in that position over recent years.”  He will be replaced by Mr Bob Baldwin MP.
    The swearing-in ceremony took place on 27 20 January06

31 January, 2006
Submariners Breathe Easy After Science Beats Smells
Australian submariners are rejoicing that a stink concerning the Collins-class boats will soon be completely covered up.
    The stink is the rancid odour from solid garbage stored in Collins-class submarines, that will literally be covered up by a new biofilter blanket that the Defence Science and Technology Organisation has recommended as the best cost-effective solution.
    The biofilter blanket was successfully trialed by HMAS Sheean during its record 55-day deployment to North and South East Asia recently.
    During the trial, the biofilter blanket was used to cover garbage and significantly reduced the vile smell that usually wafts through the narrow confines of a submarine on a long deployment.
    Commanding officer of HMAS Sheean, Lieutenant Commander Andrew Keough welcomed the new arrangement saying the blanket “should immediately be deployed on all submarines in the RAN” because of its many benefits, including improving air quality and the habitability of accommodation space.
    Sheean’s Executive Officer, LCDR Brett Westcott, said the blanket almost completely eliminates the rancid smell that emanates from stored biodegradable waste in the Auxiliary Machinery Space of Collins-class submarines.
    LCDR Westcott said the blanket not only improved living conditions for the crew but also reduced the frequency of waste discharges.
    “The blanket enables a sub to go 50-days or more without discharging rancid garbage, which helps keep our signature to a minimum, which is vital for stealth,” he said.
    Chemical Scientist Lyn Fletcher said the biofilter blanket was made in Italy and shaped up as a perfect cost-effective solution in response to the stench of waste on submarines.

31 January, 2006
New Zealand Comes to the Party on Boundary Agreement
Australia and New Zealand have exchanged notes at a ceremony in Wellington to bring into force a new treaty to establish our respective maritime boundaries.
    The Treaty between Australia and New Zealand establishing certain Exclusive Economic Zone Boundaries and Continental Shelf Boundaries settles what was Australia's longest unresolved maritime boundary.
    In one of his last official duties before returning to Canberra, outgoing High Commissioner to NZ, Dr Allan Hawke, welcomed the entry into force of the Treaty as a sign of the strong state of trans-Tasman relations.
    "The Treaty is an excellent outcome for both Australia and New Zealand and brings certainty of jurisdiction over the maritime area between our two countries,’’ Dr Hawke said.
    “It details the jurisdiction over the water column and the seabed between Australia and New Zealand where the areas claimed by both countries previously overlapped.
    The 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea provided the legal framework for this Treaty.
    Under UNCLOS, coastal states with overlapping claims are required to delimit their respective jurisdiction by agreement in order to achieve an equitable solution.
    The entry into force of the Treaty comes after complex scientific analysis of the continental shelf in the Tasman Sea and four years of extensive negotiations which concluded in July 2004.

31 January, 2006
Call for Experts to Join WorkChoices Network
Employment and Workplace Relations Minister, Kevin Andrews, has announced the release of a tender to develop a national network of industry-based advisors capable of delivering advice on the application of the WorkChoices reform.
    The WorkChoices Employer Advisor Program is one element of a wider information and education campaign that aimed to ensure all workers, their families and employers were aware of the changes and received information about how WorkChoices may affect them.
    The program would ensure that there were advisors around Australia, including in rural and regional areas, able to educate and assist employers to implement the reforms on an industry basis.
    “The government has a responsibility to provide reliable information and practical assistance to industry on how WorkChoices affects business operations,” Mr Andrews said.
    “We recognise that by tendering for these services we can supplement existing resources and harness specific industry-based knowledge.”
    Organisations were being invited to tender to provide an innovative, responsive and resource effective model to achieve the objective of the program.
    Mr Andrews said in preparing their tenders, tenderers should explore a range of methods for accessing and communicating with employers, including employers from non-English speaking backgrounds.
    The Request for Tender documentation can be accessed from www.tenders.gov.au and enquiries should be made to wceap@dewr.gov.au. 

31 January, 2006
APS Staff Prominent in Australia Day Honours
The contribution Public Servants make to the Australian community was recognised in the Australia Day honours.
   The work of the following staff members was rewarded with an award.

Dr John William COPLAND AO
Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, Canberra
For service to veterinary science, particularly in the areas of veterinary parasitology and fish pathology and the application of this research to agricultural programs in developing countries.

Robert John CORNALL AO
Secretary, Attorney-General's Department, Canberra
For service to the community through contributions to the development of public policy, particularly counter terrorism arrangements in a changing global security environment; and through providing advice and governance across a diverse range of responsibilities within the civil justice system.

Aurora Kristine ANDRUSKA PSM
For outstanding public service in the development and implementation of a new national framework for vocational education and training in Australia.

Howard BAMSEY PSM
For outstanding public service in the development and implementation of public policy on environmental issues, particularly climate change.

Judith Alison BLAZOW PSM
For outstanding public service in the development and implementation of major health care reforms including a pilot program for bowel cancer screening, a new

national co-operative food regulatory scheme and the pharmaceutical component of the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement.

Eric Philip BOWEN PSM
For outstanding public service in the development, delivery and implementation of enhanced whole-of-government budget processes.

Katharine Marie CAMPBELL PSM
For outstanding public service in enhancing Australia's education and research links with China and Indonesia.

Stephen Patrick DEADY PSM
For outstanding public service in the development and promotion of Australia's trade policy, particularly as Chief Negotiator for Australia of the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement.

Christopher Bellinger DOEPEL PSM
For outstanding public service in the development and implementation of legislation and policy relating to native title.

Richard John FOSTER PSM
For outstanding public service in the administration of courts in Australia.

Dr John LOY PSM
For outstanding public service in the field of radiation protection and nuclear safety.

Geoffrey William LUTHER PSM
For outstanding public service in the development of a comprehensive spectrum allocation system for Australia.

Steven RODDA PSM
For outstanding public service in the provision of emergency assistance to the victims of the Lower Eyre Peninsula bushfires and to their families.

Dr Wendy SOUTHERN PSM
For outstanding public service in the development of effective national counter-terrorism arrangements in Australia.

Dr Neil WILLIAMS PSM
For outstanding public service in the provision of geoscientific advice to government, geoscience services, industry and the public.

Rhys Morgan OLLERENSHAW PSM
For outstanding public service in the reform of the ACT’s health professional legislation, resulting in increased consumer protection from substandard health care services within the ACT.

David Albert COLES PSM
For outstanding public service and contribution to public policy in the Northern Territory.

AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE
Federal Agent Peter DUFFY APM
Assistant Commissioner Mark John NEY APM
Federal Agent Barry Warren TURNER APM

ACT  FIRE SERVICE
Anthony Grey BARTLETT AFSM

ACT AMBULANCE SERVICE
Kenneth John PAULSEN PSM ASM

ACT EMERGENCY SERVICES
Bruce LANG ESM

31 January, 2006
Record Numbers Call Australia Home
A record 14,000 people became Australian citizens at ceremonies around the country on Australia Day.
    The Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, John Cobb said the new citizens came from more than 90 places of birth and would join more than 3.5 million people who had become citizens since Australia citizenship was introduced 55 years ago.
“Citizenship is about commitment to Australia, its people, and its democratic traditions,’’ Mr Cobb said.
   c “It’s about people sharing the goal of making Australia an even better place to live and work.”
    He said he was delighted so many people around the nation chose  to become Australian citizens on our national day of celebration and warmly welcomed them to the Australian family.
    Mr Cobb presided over the biggest citizenship ceremony, for around 1,000 people in Sydney, while the Prime Minister, John Howard, presided over a ceremony for 119 people in Canberra.
    Governor-General, Major General Michael Jeffery conferred citizenship on about 190 people at the National Gallery of Victoria and the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, Senator Amanda Vanstone conferred citizenship on 23 people during a break in the one-day international cricket match at Adelaide Oval.
    In addition, thousands of people participated in affirmation ceremonies across the country, allowing all Australians to express their commitment to Australia.
    Mr Cobb said Australia Day was an ideal time for Australians to make a public statement affirming their loyalty and commitment to the nation and its people by taking part in an affirmation ceremony.
    “Citizenship is the unifying force in our culturally diverse society and I encourage those who are eligible to take the step and become a citizen,” he said

31 January, 2006
DIMA Figures Show More International Guests Want to Stay
Multicultural Australia remains a welcoming haven for international guests, with more opting to call Australia home according to new figures released by the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs.
    The figures show that more than 39,000 permanent visas were granted in 2004-05 to people already in Australia on temporary visas, including skilled workers, students and visitors.
    Immigration Minister Senator Amanda Vanstone welcomed the news saying the doubling of numbers in eight years also represented a profound shift in the way people migrated to Australia.
    "Almost a third of places in the 2004-05 migration program went to people already in the country," Senator Vanstone said.
    She said students and skilled workers were driving the change, which was partly a result of changes in 2001 to rules for overseas students applying to stay permanently as skilled migrants upon conclusion of their studies.
    Overall, the 2004-05 migration program was the largest and most highly skilled in the past decade, she said. A total of 120,060 people were granted visas, a five per cent increase on the 114,360 granted in 2003-04.
    These figures were available in the annual publication Population Flows: Immigration Aspects which is used as a resource for ministerial consultations on the annual migration program and distributed widely throughout Australian schools and libraries and also available on the internet.
    In the case of skilled migrants, more than 16,400 permanent skilled migration visas were granted to students in Australia in 2004-05, a 25 per cent increase on 2003-04. There was a 24 per cent rise in the number of permanent visas granted onshore under the Employer Nomination scheme to workers who entered on temporary programs.
    "The people being granted these visas are typically young and skilled, and are more often than not also educated in Australia. This is benefit to all Australians," Senator Vanstone said "They are usually proficient in English and have established social networks and experience of our labour market and culture, increasing their chances of settling quickly and successfully."
    In the same period, more than 62,000 Australians left for overseas, of which 30,000 were skilled.
    "Research shows that many of these same Australians will return home, often with enhanced skills," Senator Vanstone said.
    "In the meantime, 47,171 overseas-born people with skills arrived to assist employers fill the vacant positions for skilled workers."
    More information about Australia’s immigration trends is contained at www.immi.gov.au

31 January, 2006
Defence Learning Culture to be Audited
Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, has announced the commencement of an audit into the learning culture in Australian Defence Force schools and training institutions.
    Driven by Air Chief Marshal Houston, the initiative is in addition to significant reforms announced by the government last year to enhance the ADF military justice system.
    ACM Houston said the audit would ensure that the culture of Defence schools and training establishments complemented other improvements in the ADF’s military justice system.
    "As I have indicated on many occasions, I am committed to implementing the Government’s reforms of the military justice system,” ACM Houston said..
    "The Senate Committee Report into the Effectiveness of Australia’s Military Justice System identified ADF culture as a possible cause of shortfalls in the military justice system.
    "The aim of this audit is to establish a baseline from which to drive change in the ADF’s schools and training culture, where necessary.
    "As I flagged at the Senate Estimates hearings in November last year, the military justice implementation team has completed arrangements for the conduct of this audit into the ADF’s training establishments. The audit team will now begin its work", he said.
    The audit team would comprise Andrew Podger - a former Public Service Commissioner; Catherine Harris - a company chairperson and former university councillor; and Major General Roger Powell (Rtd) - a former senior military officer and team leader of major public sector inquirie.
    "The audit will be open and transparent. The selection and appointment of the audit team was an important factor in achieving this," ACM Houston said.     
    The audit team was scheduled to complete its report in June.

31 January, 2006
PS is Tourist Magnet says Business Guru
The number one selling point for Canberra and the region is the Public Service and Governments and businesses should use it as a drawcard according to newly appointed partner for consulting firm RSM Bird Cameron, Ged Stenhouse.
    Mr Stenhouse, who has joined the company as audit and assurance partner, said the PS is the reason Canberra exists and ought to be the prime reason people are urged to come here, either for business or pleasure.
    “It’s the biggest show in town,” Mr Stenhouse said. “It’s Canberra’s drawcard – it’s the reason we are all here.’’
    He said whatever occupation one followed,  the PS was the reason it existed.
    “Whether you are a public servant, teacher, nurse, car salesperson, journalist or humble auditor – most of us either work, or owe our living, to Canberra being the National Capital.
    He said he would use his new role with RSM Bird Cameron to “double or triple” the amount of work we do within the public and private sectors.
    “For the life of me I cannot understand why government and the public service, and the business opportunities they provide, are not at the centre of a campaign to encourage businesses, skilled tradespeople and professionals to the ACT.
    “Let’s get out there and promote the terrific business opportunities the public sector in the ACT provides – rather than hiding it away as though it’s the shame of the nation.
    He said already the overwhelming reason people came to Canberra had to do with the national capital – “not the weather or the nightlife!”
    “After 22 years with one of the world’s Big Four accounting firms I am proud to become a partner of local business advisory and accounting firm RSM Bird Cameron, live in Canberra and
do great business with the public and private sectors.
    “It’s about time the National Capital and the public service were put at the centre of a campaign to sell Canberra to the nation,” Mr Stenhouse said.

31 January, 2006
Endeavour to Sail Into Melbourne for Commonwealth Games
The magnificent Australian-built replica of Captain Cook’s famous ship Endeavour is to visit Melbourne for the Commonwealth Games in March, the Minister for the Arts and Sport, Senator Rod Kemp, has announced.
    “This splendid ship will be another major attraction for visitors to the city,” the Minister said.
    He said Endeavour would sail from Sydney just prior to the Games, making its first sea voyage under the flag of the Australian National Maritime Museum.
    In Melbourne it will berth at Wharf 15, Docklands, close to the Telstra Dome and Waterfront City’s Commonwealth Games Live Site. It will be open for inspection at Wharf 15 daily from 16 to 26 March, 9am to 6pm.
    Built in Fremantle WA in the early 10s, the beautifully constructed wooden ship is hailed as one of the most accurate historical replicas in the world. Ownership of the Endeavour was transferred to the Australian Government on 17 April 2005 where it was  displayed at the Australian National Maritime Museum on Sydney’s Darling Harbour.
    “Melbourne will be seeing Endeavour in the peak of condition,” Senator Kemp said. “She recently underwent a major refit, supervised by the Museum, at Sydney’s Garden Island dockyard.”
    Senator Kemp is keen for the Endeavour to make reasonably regular sea voyages around the Australian coast, to give the maximum number of Australians direct access to this important historic vessel.
    “It’s great that she’s coming to Melbourne for the Commonwealth Games when many domestic and international tourists are visiting,” Senator Kemp said.
    She will sail from Sydney to Melbourne direct, and make a four-day stop at Eden on the south coast of NSW on her way home.

31 January, 2006
Tax Man Goes Easy on Bushfire Victims
With a number of bushfires burning across Australia, the Tax Office again reminded people directly affected not to worry about their tax affairs at this time.
    “We understand this is a very difficult time for many people, especially those whose homes or businesses have been destroyed or damaged by the fires,” said acting Tax Commissioner Jennie Granger.
    “These people have more important things to think about now and it may be some time before they are able to focus on their tax matters.”
    If taxpayers in bushfire affected areas are experiencing any difficulties meeting tax obligations they can call the Tax Office on 131142 during business hours.
    The Tax Office can help by:
   • fast tracking refunds for people impacted by the fires    
   • giving extra time to pay debts - without interest charges    
   • giving more time to meet activity statement and other lodgment obligations    
   • helping reconstruct tax records where documents have been destroyed, and    
   • offering personal visits from field officers to help reconcile lost records.
    For more information or assistance call the Tax Office on 131142 between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday. There is also a Tax and Bushfires fact sheet.

31 January, 2006
Centrelink in the Swim to Help Flood-Affected Clients
Centrelink has made special arrangements for its flood-affected customers throughout north-eastern New South Wales.
    Extensive flooding in the region may make it difficult for customers who have appointments or need to lodge forms to access their local Centrelink office so Centrelink Area Manager, Lyn

Agnew, said the organization had organised special phone lodgement arrangements for customers who attended  the Lismore, Ballina, Byron Bay, Brunswick Heads and Tweed Heads offices.
    "The temporary arrangements mean that any customer who usually has to lodge their form in person can do so over the phone," Ms Agnew said.
    "The phone lodgement option has been activated to ensure customers will not be disadvantaged by the floods. Customers who have appointments booked today can contact Centrelink by phone to reschedule their appointment.”
    She encourage any customers who could not visit their local office to contact Centrelink via the telephone.
    She said to make form lodgements over the phone or to make enquiries, customers should call Centrelink on the relevant phone number below:
    Employment Services 13 2850
    Youth and Students 13 2490
    Family Payments 13 6150
    Retirement 13 2300
    Disability, Sickness & Carers 13 2717

31 January, 2006
Tourism Australia Gears UP for Big Year Ahead
Tourism Australia Chairman and former Deputy Prime Minister, Tim Fischer has ushered in a big year for Australian tourism saying a recent promotion in the USA was the first step in a busy year for TA with new and renewed activities being planned domestically and around the world.
    “January is dominated by the G’Day LA promotion but also ongoing joint promotions and marketing, most notably in the United Kingdom,” Mr Fischer said.
    “This month will see a burst of campaign activity with television ads, in partnership with Qantas, running in the UK.
    “At the same time Tourism Australia will be running a print and online media campaign to target consumers in Germany.
    “This is backed up with a strong focus on targeting the travel agents who sell Australia with TA attending the world’s largest travel show, ITB, which is being held in Berlin, Germany, from 8 to 12 March.”
    In June Tourism Australia will conduct the ever growing ATE (Australian Tourism Exchange) in Adelaide, following on from the successful ATE 2005 in Perth.

“In one sense the first 18 months of Tourism Australia’s existence has been doing the hard yards of revamp and research, putting in place the building blocks that will lead to a

mega year of activity in 2006, to engender growth and spend well beyond current levels,” Mr Fischer said.
    He said the key objectives adopted by the Board and approved by the Minister for Small Business and Tourism, Fran Bailey, remained to increase tourism spend and tourism dispersal, right across Australia.

24 January, 2006
Budget Pressure Hampers Environmental Office Growth.
The goal of creating environmentally responsible “Green Offices” across the public service was being hampered by Budget pressures and processes according to a recent report of the Auditor General.
   The auditor’s report Cross Portfolio Audit of Green Office Procurement found more than a quarter of the agencies surveyed indicated that their budgetary constraints or processes did not allow green

office procurement even though they admitted it could produce longer-term financial savings.
    The audit found that agencies as a whole had been successful in meeting the Government’s expectations for improving energy efficiency in office buildings but almost an extra $10 million a year could be saved if they were more proactive in energy and water conservation.
    Centrelink was identified as a leading agency in building efficiency with most agencies well placed to meet future energy efficiency requirements and the actions taken by agencies such as Defence and DIMIA in the recycling of building and demolition waste was also described as good practice.
    The auditor said the Government had introduced a range of policy measures to improve energy efficiency in buildings, reduce vehicle emissions and packaging waste. The objective of the audit was to assess and report on the progress being made by agencies.
    The audit identified a small number of better practice examples of green office procurement in  the Service but said there were significant shortcomings overall in terms of the application of whole-of-life-cycle costing and in the management of the environmental impacts of procurement decisions.
    Performance in managing motor vehicle emissions, reducing or recycling general office waste and conserving water was variable the auditor found, reporting that in the majority of cases it was poor.
    He said implementing one of the key management controls designed to improve environmental performance had been slow and few agencies had met the timetable originally envisaged by the Government.
    The audit also highlighted the absence of specific requirements in areas such as waste management and water conservation and shortcomings in agencies meeting the Government’s stated objective to be at the forefront of environmental purchasing practices. As a consequence, sustainable development had not, as yet, been fully integrated into Australian Government operations.
    The lead agency responsible for much of the policy concerning green office procurement, the Department of the Environment and Heritage, considered that the audit report would assist it in its work of encouraging agencies to improve their environmental performance. The documented cost savings and performance benefits from initiatives pursued by agencies audited will also be of value to those still considering further actions.       DEH noted that while it generally supported the recommendations, its capacity to achieve improvements in the environmental performance of other agencies was limited. Resources available for this work needed to be used strategically. DEH considered that environmental purchasing (and a commitment to improved environmental performance generally) needed to become standard practice across the Australian Government.
    While there is a strategic role for DEH in that process, primary responsibility for performance needs to rest with government agencies themselves.
    To this end, DEH is proposing to develop a new policy framework for agency environmental performance in 2006, which will assist in setting priorities for future agency action. A new website would be developed to allow content from DEH and from other agencies to be presented as a one-stop shop for the public sector.
    The full report can be found on the Audit Office website at www.anao.gov.au.

24 January, 2006
Commonwealth, States Join Forces For Online Directory
A new new online service directory is to be developed to include information from both the Australian and state governments.
   Special Minister of State Eric Abetz said the Federated Service Finder (FSF) is the first project developed under National Service Improvement Program, which was geared towards assisting governments to develop collaborative agreements to improve service delivery.
    Senator Abetz said the Collaborative Head Agreement for the FSF was signed last week by Centrelink, New South Wales Department of Commerce and South Australian Department of Health.
   “The FSF will be used by service providers, such as general practitioners and government and non-government community service organisations," said Senator Abetz.
    "Service providers will be able to easily and quickly find information about service providers in other jurisdictions, allowing quicker and more appropriate referrals of clients and improved service delivery for Australian citizens.
    "This is a significant step towards more collaborative service delivery between tiers of government and towards lower costs in collecting and maintaining data, while protecting personal information. Most importantly, it is a significant step in the delivery of better online services to Australian citizens.
    “This important milestone would not have been reached without the commitment by the three parties towards cross-jurisdictional collaboration. I would like to commend Centrelink, and the NSW and South Australian Governments for leading the work in this area," he said.
    The project is still in a trial phase and it was expected other jurisdictions would join.
    “The Online and Communication Council of Ministers - made up of representatives from the Federal, state and territory governments - recently endorsed the NSIF as the preferred agreement-making framework for collaborative service delivery arrangement across jurisdictions,”  Senator Abetz said.
    More information is avialable at www.nsif.gov.au

24 January, 2006
ABC Managing Director Takes Off
Australian Broadcasting Corporation managing director, Russell Balding, has resigned from the ABC to become chief executive of Sydney Airport Corporation.
   ABC chairman Donald McDonald said the board regretted that Mr Balding was leaving a year ahead of the end of his current contract, but understood that after 10 years with the ABC he wished to take up an attractive offer.
    "The ABC board appreciates the outstanding contribution Mr Balding has made to the corporation since 16, in particular as managing director from late 2001. Under his executive leadership, the ABC has consolidated its role as the national broadcaster, making great progress in a rapidly evolving digital environment. The board wishes Mr Balding further success in his new role," Mr McDonald said.
    Recruitment for a replacement would begin immediately, Mr McDonald said.
    Mr Balding said it had been a difficult decision as his time with the ABC was both the most challenging and most rewarding, of his career.
    "However, I believe the ABC I am leaving is in good shape, is in good spirits, and is well positioned for continuing success," he said.
"In the face of strong competition for the attention of Australians, the ABC remains a highly relevant part of our national infrastructure, and a critical player in Australia's media and cultural sector.
    "On all our platforms our audiences both domestically and internationally - as always a most significant measure of continuing success - remain at all time high levels and the strong connection our audiences feel with the ABC continues to be demonstrated clearly throughout our entire range of services.
    "I take immense pride in the achievements of the Corporation especially over recent years and I thank the management and staff of the organisation for their commitment and their key contributions towards those achievements.
    "The ABC is a great Australian institution which deserves to be properly nurtured," he said, thanking the ABC board, particularly the chair, for their support over the past four years.
    Mr Balding will leave the ABC in late March 2006. In his remaining time with the ABC he will be working on ensuring optimal results from the current Funding Adequacy and Efficiency Review and the Corporation's Triennial Funding Submission to Government.
    Russell Balding had been the ABC's Managing Director since May 2002, although he acted in the position from November 2001 following the departure of the previous Managing Director. He originally joined the ABC as its Chief Financial Officer in early 16.

24 January, 2006
Defence Minister quits ministry
Defence Minister Robert Hill resigned from the Howard ministry on 20 20 January06, saying he would also resign from the senate during the next parliamentary sitting.
    The South Australian senator is the coalition's longest serving government leader in the senate, having held the office since they defeated Labor's Paul Keating on 3 March 16. He is also the longest serving party leader in the senate, becoming senate leader of the opposition in 10.
    Senator Hill was elected in October 1980 and joined the parliament in July 1981. He held a number of senior positions on the opposition bench, before making his mark as a senior government minister.
    He was appointed Minister for Defence on 10 November 2001, where he has overseen operations (combat, peacekeeping and humanitarian) in the Middle East, Afghanistan, Solomon Islands, Pakistan, Sudan, Indonesia and elsewhere.
    He has been responsible for two Strategic Updates, the reform of the Defence Materiel Organisation, a major procurement program for all three Services, a significantly upgraded capability branch, change in the intelligence organisations and other major institutional change.
    Previously, Senator Hill was Australia's longest serving Minister for the Environment where he was responsible for major programs in areas of conservation and sustainable use of Australia’s natural heritage, climate change and biodiversity.
    Senator Hill's major achievements in this portfolio included the passage of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 19, the biggest overhaul of environmental laws in Australia's history and the establishment of the $2.5 billion Natural Heritage Trust, the largest environmental rescue package ever undertaken by an Australian Government.
    Senator Hill's statement of resignation follows:
    “Today I have formally tendered my resignation to the Prime Minister from the position as Defence Minister and Leader of the Government in the Senate.
    I will continue to represent the interests of the residents of South Australia as a Senator in the immediate future, however I intend to resign as a Senator some time during this next Parliamentary sitting period.
    It has been a great honour to serve the Australian community as a Senator for nearly 25 years and as a Minister of the Australian Government for the past 10 years.
    I am privileged to have been Defence Minister since November 2001 at a time when the Australian military has been heavily engaged in overseas operations and humanitarian relief efforts, including in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Solomon Island, Sudan and Indonesia.
    I take this opportunity to thank my Cabinet and Senate colleagues and in particular the dedicated supporters of the Liberal Party who stuck by the cause during 13 years in Opposition.
    I thank my family, friends and members of my Ministerial and personal staff who have made it possible for me to serve the Government for so many years.
    I also thank the officers of the Department of Defence, the senior military leadership and officers of the Department of Environment and Heritage who I have worked closely with, for their dedicated service.
    I will continue to work hard in support of the Howard Government, which has delivered and will continue to deliver the best opportunity for a safe and prosperous future for all Australians.”

• Best Caring for People Activity:  this category may include activities such as working in childcare centres, schools, nursing homes, hospitals, health centres, youth camps, and disability support centres etc.
• Best Community Activity:  this category may include activities such as public museums, sporting clubs, community organisations, youth clubs etc.
• Best Natural and/or Cultural Heritage Activity: this category may include activities such as environmental care including river, bush and parkland regeneration, habitat restoration for endangered species, refurbishing and/or maintaining historic buildings, restoring historic transportation, recording local history, restoring documents etc.

• make sure you know who you are talking to;
• check with your parents before giving out any personal information;
• don’t meet someone on your own;
• stay aware of what’s going on around you and guard your privacy;
• Tell an adult if you receive nasty or bullying messages.

• keep an eye on your children’s use of the internet, particularly chat rooms, and the use of IM;
• stay up to date with the new technology, and how it works;
• children should be reminded to never give out personal information when they’re chatting online;
• talk to your kids about the internet experiences, the good and the bad. Let them know it’s OK to tell you if they come across something that worries them;
• if children want to meet face-to-face someone that they’ve chatted with, they should always take a parent with them.

The new safety site can be found at www.cybersmartkids.com.au

since it was launched in 2001 as part of the Centenary of Federation.
    The 2006 tour will include Tennant Creek and Karratha and will expand through satellite programs such as a tour from Broken Hill through Menindee, Wilcannia, White Cliffs and Tibooburra.
    AFC director of industry and cultural development Sabina Wynn said they were exceptionally proud of the project.
    "The AFC is committed to enriching Australian cultural identity through preserving and providing access to our audiovisual heritage," she said.
    "Big Screen tours the entire country for almost the whole calendar year, allowing communities who would not normally be able to see these films on the big screen to come together and share Australian stories," she said.
    This year, the program includes the latest releases such as The Caterpillar Wish, the first completed feature64 film from the AFC's IndiVision Project Lab, starring Susie Porter and Wendy Hughes. Other films currently being negotiated include Footy Legends, Ten Canoes, M (Macbeth), The Book of Revelation and Candy.
    Picnic at Hanging Rock will be screened to every community, to celebrate this classic's 30th birthday.
    Big Screen patron Geoffrey Rush has chosen six of his all-time favourite Australian films to screen as part of The Rush Collection at selected locations on the tour, Accompanied by recorded video introductions, the collection represents a highly personal selection from one of Australia's finest actors. The titles include Sunday Too Far Away, Mad Max, Babe: Pig in the City, Vincent, the Last Wave and The Chant of Jimmy Blacksmith.
    For the first time, the schools program will feature64 graduation films from the Australian Film, Television and Radio School. The films have been classified for high school students studying English, media and communications in years 10, 11 and 12.
    The schools program also features Australian classics for primary students. These screenings are usually free and include Dot and the Kangaroo, The Magic Pudding, Hildegarde and the newly restored Storm Boy.
    Festival Director Peter Castaldi said the project was unique to Australia.
    "The depth and breadth of support from across the industry – from filmmakers such as Peter Weir, all our patrons, from the distributors and from all our exhibition partners – reflects very strongly just how much everyone involved wants to keep Australian content alive on Australian screens," he said.

   Tour dates for 2006
   Victoria
    Mildura 22 Feb-12 Mar
    Swan Hill (satellite) March
    Briagolong 6-12 June
    Sale (satellite) 6-12 June
    Charlton 29-30 September
    Yarram 17-19 November

   New South Wales
    Deniliquin (satellite) March
    Broken Hill 6-9 April
    Menindee, Wilcannia, White Cliffs, Tibooburra and Silverton (satellite) 15-28 April
    Nambucca Heads August
    Bowraville August
    Gunnedah October-November
    Wagga Wagga late October
    Tarcutta (satellite) late October   

   Western Australia
    Merredin 8 March
    Kalgoorlie 10-12 March
    Wagin 17-19 March
    Geraldton September
    Port Hedland 13-15 October
    Karratha 20-22 October

   Queensland
    Barcaldine August
    Jericho (satellite) August
    Hervey Bay 18-20 August
    Bundaberg (satellite) 18-20 August
    Roma 25-27 August
    Winton (satellite) 25-27 August
    Cloncurry early September

   Tasmania
    Burnie 13-15 October
    Devonport TBC
    Georgetown TBC

New faces on health committee
A Human Genetics Advisory Committee has been set up under the National Health and Medical Research Council.
    Formed in response to the Australian Law Reform Commission and Australian Health Ethics Committee's report Essentially Yours - The Protection of Human Genetic Information the new committee will be chaired by Professor Ron Trent of the University of Sydney and comprise 12 members.
    Announcing the appointments, the Acting Minister for Health and Ageing, Julie Bishop said the members represented a diverse range of health, medical, and community groups who would look at the impact human genetic technology may have in a wide range of applications.
Other members are:
    Rev Martin Robinson from the Anglican Church, Sydney;
    Professor Jonathan Izant, Queensland University of Technology;
    Dr Rosanna Capolingua of the AMA’s Ethics and Medico-legal Committee;
    Dr Sandra Hacker of the Northern Victorian Health Service Board;
    Dr Kristine Barlow-Stewart, genetic counselor;
    Emeritus Professor Jack Martin, University of Melbourne;
    Professor Don Chalmers, University of Tasmania;
    Professor David Weisbrot from the Law Reform Commission;
    Professor Siaw-Teng Liaw, University of Melbourne;
    Associate Professor Jane Halliday, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute;
    Dr Sally Goold OAM, Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses.

20 January, 2006
PS News a Centre of Information For the Australian Public Service
For far too long the extraordinary activities of Australia’s giant Commonwealth Public Service have been ignored by Australia’s mainstream media, despite bearing a fundamentally important impact on the governance and policy development of this nation.

Two New Judges for Federal Court
Professor Berna Collier and Justice Dennis Cowdroy have been appointed judges of the Federal Court of Australia.
    Announcing the appointments, Attorney-General Philip Ruddock said Professor Collier had been a Commissioner of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission since 2001, was a director of the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority and held the Clayton Utz Professorship of Commercial Law at the Queensland University of Technology. She has written widely on aspects of insolvency, commercial law and

medico-legal practice and will take up her appointment on 8 February 2006. Justice Collier will be based in Brisbane.
    Justice Cowdroy had been a judge of the New South Wales Land and Environment Court since 19 and a Queen’s Counsel since 1989. 
    In 15 he was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for services to the Returned Services League, Law and the Community and will take up his appointment on 13 March 2006. Justice Cowdroy will be based in Sydney.

Writer Re-appointed to Literature Board
Novelist and essayist Alan Gould has been reappointed the Australia Council for the Arts’ Literature Board for another 12 months.
    Announcing the reappointment, Arts Minister Senator Rod Kemp said Mr Gould had won the National Book Council Banjo Award for fiction in 12, the Philip Hodgins Memorial Medal for Literature in 19, and was co-winner of the Courier-Mail Book of the Year Award in 2001.

New Face and Old at Portrait Gallery
Marilyn Darling has been reappointed Chair and  Lucy Turnbull appointed as a board member at the National Portriat Gallery in Canberra.
   Announced by Arts Minister Senator Rod Kemp, the appointments come as the Gallery embarks on the construction of a new and permanent home.
   Senator Kemp said both Ms Darling – who was a member of the National Portrait Gallery Advisory Committee from 13–94 and is on the Old Parliament House Governing Council – and Ms Turnbull -  a former Lord mayor of Sydney – had a wealth of expertise in the cultural, visual arts, legal and commercial sectors.
  They were each appointed or three years.